2023 Round 1 post-Qualifying press conference

Thoughts from Pourchaire, Martins and Verschoor FIA Formula 2: A very warm welcome to the top three qualifiers for the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race here in Bahrain, starting in third place for Van Amersfoort Racing, Richard Verschoor, in second place for ART Grand Prix, Victor Martins and on pole position, also for ART Grand Prix, Théo Pourchaire. Now Théo, 0.7s in Formula 2 is a lifetime. Tell us about it.

Théo Pourchaire: Yeah, it's a lot! It's a huge gap. To be honest, in the winter I worked a lot on my Qualifying pace because last year I struggled a lot, and it worked well because I'm P1 and Victor is P2. So, the team also did a great job. We have to give credit to the team. The car was very good, and I felt confident, it was a very good set up so I could push a lot. I don't know how to explain it, it was just quick.

FIA Formula 2: So very quick over one lap, is the race performance there as well?

Pourchaire: In the test, the race performance was good, but it will be tight for sure. I know the other drivers are really good and I will focus on myself. The most important part is to have a very good start and to do a good pit stop. After that you know, the strategy is also a good part of it. I'm confident, the car is good. If it's good in Quali, it will be good in the race. I will give my best as well.

FIA Formula 2: Many congratulations to you. Now, Victor, what a way to start your Formula 2 career. Tell us about it.

Victor Martins: It was quite a smooth session, to be honest. After the first Quali you have a bit of pressure, it's a new thing for you. It was also a big step from Free Practice. I think it's the first time I had that much of a gap to find in the car from Free Practice to Qualifying. Obviously, there was a lot of work to do. I had to take the experience from the test and in the end. I'm happy with the position. I know there’s a lot more to do on the improvement side because I still made a few mistakes which cost me a lot of time in the end. I think if somebody would have told me I would be P2 after the first Quali I would have taken it!

FIA Formula 2: So how are you finding the step up to F2? What's been the hardest thing for you?

Martins: I think for now it’s finding the step from hard to soft in Quali on the one-lap pace. Then I would say also in the race, the pace, how you need to manage the tyres, the pit stop, the strategy, the different compounds and how to change your driving style and your management. In the end, the Quali pace was not a big step it’s just an approach that you need to change. It’s just feeling and pushing to the limit.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations to you. Richard, coming to you. How good was the car? How good was the lap for you?

Richard Verschoor: Well, it was OK. I think there was more to come. I didn't feel super good with the balance, especially compared to the test. Big credits to ART, they both did an amazing job. I think it would have been hard to catch them anyway even with a better balance, but still, I’m very happy to start a season like this. I think it's an amazing job from the team. I think it was one of the best qualifying performances from them so far, so I hope to keep it up.

FIA Formula 2: And you're new to Van Amersfoort this year. How are you settling in?

Verschoor: Good! I think it helps that I'm Dutch and most of them are Dutch as well so we can speak to each other very easily. I spent a lot of time at the factory to get to know them as quickly as possible. I think that helped and I still feel like there's more to come on that side well.

FIA Formula 2: Well best of luck for the rest of the weekend.